On Saturday at Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces High and Mayfield High meet in the Class 5A high school football semifinals at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
The winner advances to the 5A championship on Dec. 5 or 6. Mayfield is still in the hunt for its fourth straight title, while LCHS is aiming for its first title since 2002.
In the first meeting between the two teams on Nov. 7 at AMS, the Bulldaws squeaked by with a 22-21 win after falling behind 14-0.
The Trojans could have won that game had they not been called for 12 men on the field after stopping LCHS on its first two-point attempt to win the game. The penalty gave the Bulldawgs another chance to score two points and they did when running back James Hall Jr. scored.
So what are the keys to victory this weekend?
For MHS, the keys are to once again jump out to a lead and control the clock. In the first meeting, the Trojans did a good job of scoring and holding onto the ball in the first half. The Trojans need to pass the ball well once again. Junior Austin Hooker has gotten better and better as the season has gone along. He had a solid game against LCHS in the first game and followed that up with a good showing against La Cueva in the playoffs last weekend. On defense, the Trojans have to limit the big plays by LCHS, particularly in the passing game.
The Bulldawgs must be better on defense this weekend. They gave up 33 against Manzano last weekend and if they don't play better against the Trojans, the Trojans could have a field day on offense. LCHS has a great offense and if they it can make it more of an uptempo type of a game, that will be in its favor.
Las Cruces High is motivated to get back to the title game for the first time since 2002 and the team is motivated to avenge last year's 37-29 loss to Clovis in the semifinals. In that game, Clovis jumped on the Bulldawgs early and didn't allow the Bulldawgs to ever take the lead.
All factors point to another entertaining game this weekend with a trip to the state title game against No. 3 Clovis or No. 2 Eldorado on the line.
- Felix
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5 comments:
Should be an entertaining game. Mayfield is a better team IMO on both sides of the ball. I take the Trojans by 14 points.
My question is....did Las Cruces High take Manzano lightly? The Bulldogs beat the same team by 40 earlier in the year....last friday they gave up more than 30 and barely got by. Did Manzano expose a weakness?
Mayfield is getting better. The Bulldawgs aren't.
Mayfield out played Las Cruces the first time. I think Mayfield will win. You can't count out the Dawgs with Caro and Hall though, they can bail them out like they did last time. Those two carried them and could again. But the Mayfield playoff machine is revved up.
The Dawgs had one of their worst games of the year and still beat Mayfield. I think this time around LCHS gets it going and beats Mayfield by 10 to 14 pts.
"Mayfield is getting better. The Bulldawgs aren't".......Now that the game is over and the outcome is known, I hope the person from 3 posts below chokes on those words. GO BULLDAWGS.
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